Member Newsletter

Speculative Literature Foundation Newsletter - No. 13/14

SLF Newsletter Nos.13/14 February/March 2005
_____________________________________________________
In this issue:
Older Writers Grant Winner Announced
Second Older Writers Grant Planned
Website Additions

Editor's note: A combination of medical problems and
professional obligations prevented me from getting the
February newsletter out on time, hence this double
issue.
______________________________________________________

* Older Writers Grant:

SPECULATIVE LITERATURE FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES OLDER
WRITERS GRANT WINNER

The Speculative Literature Foundation (SLF) is
delighted to announce that its first annual Older
Writers Grant is to be awarded to Andrea Hairston. The
$750 grant will be used to help Ms. Hairston in her
professional writing career. Honorable Mentions
included Huey Alcaro, Kathleen Camp, Robin
Courtwright, Bruce Golden, and Elaine Sutherland.
These writers will receive a one-year free membership
to the Speculative Literature Foundation, which offers
many helpful resources for speculative fiction
writers.

The award is intended to assist writers of fifty years
or older who are just starting to work at a
professional level. The award was chosen by a jury
consisting of M.J. Goodner, Sandra Kasturi, and Sheree
Thomas of the SLF on the basis of interest and
merit. Award Administrator Sandra noted they received
over 7 0 applications. Sandra said "What made the
winner stand out was good writing, good
characterization, an interesting idea, and a lack of
cliches. [Ms. Hairston] sent a novel excerpt, and I
wanted to see how everything turned out. I wanted to
keep reading, and was disappointed that I only had a
short excerpt! To me, that's the mark of a really
good book."

This year's Older Writers Grant is generously
sponsored in its entirety by Centric Advertising:
http://www.centric.com/).

For more information and guidelines for the award,
please see our website:
http://www.speculativeliterature.org/Awards/SLFOlderWr
iters.php

* Second Older Writers Grant Planned

Director Mohanraj has decided to combine funds from
Centric, which has renewed its commitment for next
year, with another generous donation from ISFIC, which
will allow us to offer two Older Writers Grants in the
amount of $500.

Sandra Kasturi, a member of this year's jury, has been
officially appointed Older Writers Grant
Administrator. Any questions about the award may be
directed to her at:
olderwriters@speculativeliterature.org

* New Additions to Website:

RESOURCES
READERS
CONVENTIONS

Fencon: http://www.fencon.org/

Dallas/Fort Worth, September 23-25, 2005. Over forty writers,
artists, and singers will be guests at FenCon 2005, including
Guest of Honor S. M. Stirling, Toastmaster David Gerrold and
Special Guest Mike Resnick. Mike Resnick will be conducting the
first Writers Workshop.

ACADEMICS
COLLEGE / UNIVERSITY

UPDATE TO CURRENT LINK!

Ink for the Dead:
http://www.csmaccath.com/pagesforstudents/specficstudenttools.htm

Supplemental course materials for teaching speculative
literature. It has syllabi, course outlines, and suggested links.
Site created by C.S. MacCath-Moran.

Strange New Worlds: 21st Century Science Fiction:

Two syllabi for versions of a literature course created by Andy
Duncan.

JOURNALS

Paradoxa: http://www.paradoxa.com

Journal covering "paraliterature," including "all aspects of
genre literature (written, oral, drawn or designed) which make a
significant and original contribution to the study of those
genres.

Studies in Modern Horror: http://simh.seele-brennt.com/three/

"A scholarly journal for the study of contemporary weird
fiction."

RESEARCH MATERIALS

SF Hub: http://www.sfhub.ac.uk/

A subject portal for SF scholars created by The University of
Liverpool Library.

WRITERS

CREATIVE WRITING PROGRAMS

Whidbey Island Writers Association's Writers Workshop:
www.writeonwhidbey.net/MFA/index.htm

"The Whidbey Writers Workshop MFA Program is the first in the
country—and perhaps in the world—to be offered not by a college
or university, but by an organization of writers. In this, it
resembles the many free-standing arts institutions offering
degrees in music, art, dance and theater. Authorized by the
Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board, WWW MFA classes
will begin in August of 2005. Applications will be accepted
beginning January 1, 2005 for the fall semester.

"The Whidbey Writers Workshop MFA degree will require sixty
graduate-level credits, including writing workshops, craft
courses, directed reading courses, and culminating in a creative
thesis project consisting of a book –length publishable
manuscript."


UPDATED HEADING -- REPLACES "MEDICAL RESOURCES"

MEDICAL AND FINANCIAL EMERGENCY RESOURCES

AMERICAN POETS FUND - EMERGENCY FUNDS

The Academy of American Poets, 584 Broadway, Suite 1208
New York, NY 10012

Assists poets of demonstrated ability who are in a state of
urgent financial need. Grants cannot be used to promote or
otherwise enhance literary talent or reputation, and applications
are not accepted. Academy Chancellors, Fellows, and prize winners
may bring the circumstances of qualifying poets to the attention
of the American Poets Fund committee by sending a letter of
nomination, including specifics about the nominee's current
financial situation, to the Executive Director of the Academy.

AUTHORS LEAGUE FUND - EMERGENCY FUNDS
31 East 28th Street , New York, NY 10016
Main Phone: (212)268-1208; Main Fax: (212)564-5363

The Authors League Fund was established by the Authors League of
America, Inc., to help career authors and dramatists in the
United States and in financial distress due to an urgent
situation. The Fund makes interest-free loans to professional
writers in need; for example, writers with health problems and
inadequate health insurance, or older writers whose income has
ceased. Loan-seekers must show need and documentation of their
professional status. Method of contact: telephone, letter or
email.

PUBLISHERS

Triumvirate Publications: www.Triumpub.com

Victor Chernozemsky, Publisher, 497 West Avenue 44, Los Angeles,
CA 90065-3917, Tel/Fax: 818-340-6770, E-mail: Triumpub@aol.com.
"Publisher of genre fiction: Science Fiction/Fantasy, Mystery,
Thriller/Suspense, Horror/Occult, Adventure." Avg. press run: 8M.
Simultaneous submissions accepted. Copyrights for author. Payment
trade standard.

RICH HORTON'S MARKET SUMMARIES:
SUMMARIES FOR 2004

Amazing, 2004
Analog, 2004
Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine, 2004
Asimov's, 2004
Black Gate, 2004
Electric Velocipede, 2004
Fantasy & Science Fiction, 2004
Flytrap, 2004
Interzone, 2004
Realms of Fantasy, 2004
Tales of the Unanticipated, 2004

NEW HEADING
REVIEWERS

Booklist: www.ala.org/ala/booklist/booklist.htm

Digital version of American Library Association's magazine:
feature articles, book reviews, cumulative index.

BookPage: www.bookpage.com

Online version of print magazine: many reviews, including
latest Oprah choice.

Kirkus Reviews: www.kirkusreviews.com/kirkusreviews/index.jsp

Kirkus is a review service for bookstores, libraries, TV
producers, movie studios, newspapers, etc. Used heavily to help
determine which books to sell, stock, or include in databases.

Library Journal: www.libraryjournal.com

Library Journal Book Review is used very widely by
librarians of public and academic libraries. Publishes
approximately 6000 reviews each year written by carefully
selected outside reviewers.

Midwest Book Review: www.midwestbookreview.com

Many short reviews on a wide variety of genres.

New York Review of Books: www.nybooks.com

Online version of highly respected print journal: reviews,
archives, classifieds.

Publishers Weekly: www.publishersweekly.com

The most recognized magazine in the industry.

Publishing News: www.publishingnews.co.uk/pn/default.asp

United Kingdom's equivalent of Publishers Weekly.